Nepedia
Back to Discover
Independent Reader
🧬

Chlorophytum comosum

life science Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The spider plant is a very popular houseplant.

Chlorophytum comosum Ampel
Chlorophytum comosum Ampel

It has many names. People call it the ribbon plant or the airplane plant. It is native to tropical and Southern Africa.

Chlorophytum comosum 01
Chlorophytum comosum 01

Many people like the variegated types. These have leaves with white stripes. One type has a white stripe in the middle. Another type has white edges.

This plant is easy to grow. It can live in many conditions. It can even grow in low light. However, tap water can hurt it. Fluoride in the water can make the leaf tips look burnt.

Spider plants have a neat way to make new plants. They grow long stems called inflorescences.

SpiderPlantPlantlets
SpiderPlantPlantlets

These stems carry small plantlets at the tips. We often call these plantlets "spiderettes" or "pups." The stems eventually bend down to touch the soil. When they touch the earth, they grow adventitious roots. These are new roots that grow from the stem. This helps new plants start.

Spider plants are safe for people and pets. Some people even say the roots are edible.

2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03
2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03

The flowers are small and greenish-white.

179 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03.jpg
2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03.jpg
File:2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04.jpg
2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04.jpg
File:Chlorophytum comosum 01.jpg
Chlorophytum comosum 01.jpg
File:Chlorophytum comosum Ampel.jpg
Chlorophytum comosum Ampel.jpg
File:SpiderPlantPlantlets.jpg
SpiderPlantPlantlets.jpg
File:Семя хлорофитума хохлатого под микроскопом.jpg
Семя хлорофитума хохлатого под микроскопом.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.